“That is the definition of faith, hermano," says Figueroa. "Something that we believe in even though it doesn't work."Eres un cinicio."If it worked, it would be science.”

“There is great literature about imprisonment, . . . about the foot soldier, . . . about the sea -- but not one great work about flying.”

“The only difference between dancing and fucking," he said in those days, "is that you don't fuck in front of a live band.”

“It's a mixed crowd at the dogs - black, white, hispanic - but to Walt they all look like Jackie Gleason. Heavyset guys with big plans and polyester souls.”

“He likes to know things. He checks out book and record collections when he visits people, looks in medicine cabinets, takes inventory in refrigerators. He eaves drops on conversations at public phone booths. He reads murder victims' mail.”

“The fourth way to get a boy to like you is to be yourself. Now, I am contractually obligated as an adult to give that advice, even though it doesn't work. But yeah, be yourself, even though no one has any idea what it means to be yourself. Like whose self would I otherwise be being?”

“She's become a Russian again, he thought. When something works, she's grateful. When it doesn't work, it's life.”